Being God's Truth and Love

I. Upsetting Equilibrium

How will the Church know the Truth and Love of God?

II. Analyzing Discrepancy

Priest system: You study and give to us!

Post-modern system: No truth only love!

Fundamentalists No love only truth!

III. Cluing Resolution

IV. Experiencing Gospel

I. That all believers have a responsibility of discerning truth and error. (4:1)

The “test” is a plural.

This is not new. In the OT, in Elisha’s day there were prophets of Baal. Moses said, (Deut. 18:22)

Failed Prophecy

Unorthodox

Other Scripture:

1 Cor. 12:1-3

II. How all believers are responsible to discern truth and error.(4:2-5)

The Test: Christological: what do you think about Jesus?

This is not a comprehensive test but a confessional one.

What is the content of his message, specifically what does he say about Jesus?

[What is not a test?] If there is a church bus at their building, a kitchen, instruments. I’m not saying these issues are unimportant, but I am saying there are many people who wrong on issues but are not antichrists.

The “antichrist” is anyone who has a spirit, disposition, character that stands in opposition to Christ.

III. So what? After discerning truth and falsehood, listen and obey. (4:6)

First, know that they have come from God.

Second, listen to those “from God.”

When the world of God is preached faithfully, it is the very word of God.

IV. Love because God loves You (4:7-10)

This section focuses on brotherly love.

4:8 Basis is that God is love.

There are many churches where the Church is plagued with divisive Christians.

God is Spirit (Jn 4:25) and God is light (1 jn 1:5).

The OT background tells us that God is personal, living, active. God is not just some abstract character of love.

To say comprehensively, “God is love” is not to deny God is truth, justice, light, Spirit, etc.

It is fallacious to reverse this statement, Love is god.

4:9 Love because it is the nature of God and because he demonstrated this love in his Son.

V. Love because God Lives in You (11-21)

4:11 In a way, we owe God our love for the brethren.

4:12 God is seen in our love.

Not only love because Gods loves, but be God’s love and presence on earth. The church is the body of Christ. We reincarnate, reimbody God on earth.

V. Anticipating Consequences

I. Overcome the world (4:5)

They have not overcome the word because they are eloquent, intelligent, or skilled, they are victors because of the HS which dwells in them.

God’s love is “made complete or fullfulled” in us.